| Thursday, May 11, 2006 |
| Brave New World |
This story in today's NY Times about the Nukak-Maku' tribe leaving their Stone Age rainforest existence to enter the modern world, is sad, upsetting, and heartwarming in differing ways.
Sad, that an indigenous, innocent, culture is once again, and perhaps for the last time on earth, forced to leave their natural habitat where they have lived peacefully for centuries, and now have to adapt to a modern world that they are completely unequipped to deal with.
Upsetting, in that the reasons for their leaving their environment are unclear, but may be due to military guerillas forcing them out.
Heartwarming, in the total innocence and wonderment experienced by people who are nothing more than children in terms of coming to grips with the marvels of the modern world. It is so rare to find a culture so completely isolated. I hope we take the time to learn from them as much as they will have to learn from us.
The Nukak have no concept of money, of property, of the role of government, or even of the existence of a country called Colombia. They ask whether the planes that fly overhead are moving on some sort of invisible road....
Ma-be explained that the idea is to grow plantains and yucca and take the crops to town. "We can exchange it for money," he said, "and exchange the money for other things."
But first they need to learn how to cultivate crops. The Nukak say they would like their children to go to school. They also say they do not want to lose traditions, like hunting or speaking their language. "We do want to join the white family," Pia-pe said, speaking of Colombian society, "but we do not want to forget words of the Nukak."
After a recent meeting with government officials, the Nukak were clear about what else they wanted: vehicles, drivers and doctors so a group of 15 Nukak could set off on a tour of the countryside, searching for a spot to settle down.
They do not ask for much  land to plant, preferably close to a town but also on the edge of a forest. They do not want armed men around, nor coca, they say.
"They will look to see if there are nuts, monkeys, water," said Ms. RodrÃguez, the town official handling the latest request. "If they find it, then, yes, that's the spot." Better to be self sufficient, than to succumb to the fate that other tribal refugees have endured in becoming wards of the state, where they are either unwilling or unable to adapt and become self sufficient in society. |
posted by Broadsheet @ 12:40 PM   |
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